Apparatus for measuring the output of refrigerating machines



May 10, 1932.

APPARATUS FOR MEASURING THE OUTPUT OF REFRIGERATING MACHINES F. SCHIPPER Filed Jan. 6. 1927 2 Sheets-sheet 1 Man/70R WM -Z May 10, 1932. s p 1,857,262

APPARATUS FOR MEASURING THE OUTPUT OF REFRIGERATING MACHINES Filed Jan. 6, 19 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A l I V \J 7/ /kdY C A gch 'lpfyeyr INVENTUR Patented May 10, 1932 UNITED. STATES FRIEDRICH SGHIPPEB, WIESBADEN', GERMANY APPARATUS FOR MEASURING THE OUTPUT OF REFRIGEBATING MACHINES Application med January 6,

My invention relates to a flow meter, articularly for measuring the output of re igeratin machines. It is an object of my inventlon to so perform the measuring operation that the errors involved in old methods are eliminated. Such errors may be caused by the presence of steam or air bubbles, oil or any other impurities in the liquid to be evaporated, and means are provided according to my invention by which the purity of the liquid is readily tested and impunties are detected.

In a preferred embodiment of my. invention, I illuminate the liquid in the indicator Hand provide a glass for inspecting it as it flows through the apparatus;

It is necessary to supervise the output of refrigerating machines, as leakage and loss of refrigerating agent from the system may occur, or mechanical defects, worn-out piston rings, leaky valves, etc., may develop, by which troubles the output is reduced.

It has already been proposed to supervise the output of the machine by measuring the liquid from the condenser by a perforate plate (Poncelet plate) intermediate two superimposed tanks, and to read the output at a given time from a table, -after gauging the liquid levels in the tanks. It has also been proposed to measure the pressures on both sides of a perforated plate by pressure gauges and to calculate the output from the indications of such gauges. Apparatus of the. first-mentioned-type involve the drawback that steam and liquid are in the same tank and the temperature of the liquid is nearly at boiling point so that liquid may permanently be evaporated, or steam condensed, and it is diflicult to obtain uniform conditions. In apparatus of the last-mentioned type measuring may become impossible due to steam flowing through the perforated plate instead of-liquid. These drawbacks are overcome by permitting onlypure liquid to be supplied to the perforated plate so that errors due to steam bubbles and other foreign matter are eliminated. The flow is measured by a differential gauge and the output at any given time may perforated plate,

A method may be performed,

1987, Serial No. 159,474, and in Germany July 21, 1926.

be read on a scale combined with the pressure scale of the gauge.

The purity of the liquid flowing toward the that is, its freedom from steam or air bubbles, oil, etc., is tested through a gauge glass which may be combined with a lamp. In a preferred embodiment of my invention, I provide in the vicinity of the gauge glass and in the passage in front of the perforated plate, a small incandescent lamp which is insulated from the liquid and illu minates the entire area of the passage. When the liquid is pure the space behind the inspection glass appears to be empty, but when steam bubbles have been carried along with the liquid (the Tyndall phenomenon) or the liquid contains any other impurities, air, oil or the like, these will become visible in the light of the lamp even if very finely distributed.

Obviously, it is important that the entire area of the flowing liquid should be pervaded by the light rays.

In the drawings an indicator by which my is illustrated by 76 way of example.

Fig.1 is an elevation of a complete flow meter, Fig. 2 is a section of the flow meter in a plane containing the axis of its supply pipe, 80 Fig. 3 is an elevation of theflow meter drawn to a larger scale and partly broken open, a

Fig. 4 is a section on the line IVIV in Fig. 3, with the two-way cock k in a differcnt position,

Figs. 5 and 6 are sections similar to the sectional part in Fig. 3 and showing modified means for illuminating the inspecting means.

Referring now to the drawings, a is the supply pipe of the indicator which is provided with flanges at both ends and is adapted to be inserted in the pipe line, not shown, of a refrigerating machine. The liquid, gen erally ammonia, flows as indicated by the arrows in Figs. 1 and 3. b is a thermometer in the supply pipe (1 which extends intothe flowing liquid, d is a casing integral with, or secured to the supply pipe at, 0 and it are 1 connecte' assa wit the passage in the supply v pipe a at their lower ends, and-with each other plateextending across the ;and p are dpassages connecte is held on a shoulder of at their upper ends. e is an inspection glass in the wall of the passagec where any impurities in the liquid are detected and remedied by the o erator. Therefore, only pure liquid will 0w in the apparatus. f is a perforated assage c and 0 (l with the spaces above an below the plate. The passages are connected with pipes'm and n, respectively which convey the liquid to a diflerential u e 9. Z is a face on the-casing d to whic 't e gauge 9 may be secured. is a sleeve inserted above theplate and r Is the cover of the casing d bg'whic the plate 7' t e passage 0 throughthe medium of the. sleeve q. a is a hole in the. upper portion oflthe sleeve, by which the passage 0 is connected with the passage 71..

' rem this passage the liquid flows to the shutofl' valve 2' and on to themachine. The valve 2' is set for a given output.

k is a two-waycock'at the ends of the passages c andh where they adjoin the passage in the supply pipe a and serves for b -passin the casing d. When the casin is y-passe the liquid in it is shut ofi from t e supply pipe :1 and might cause damage to the casing or the parts connected therewith as it has no exit. To prevent trouble of this kind, bores o. and p are provided in the body of the twoway cock I; which are connected with cavities at the front and the rear of the cock so that the cock will be moved from its seat by axial thrust in the caseof excess pressure, and damage to the casing is prevented. A

spring 3 holds the valve In on its seat and 1s arranged about the valve spindle z. The central web of the valve is shown in cross section at g for the sake of clearness. Besides, a

gauge .might be secured to the cover 1 for indicating the pressure in the casing d.

g is an incandescent. lamp inserted in" the wall of the passages, and h is a glass cover surrounding the lamp. The light of the lamp pervades the entire area of the flowing liquid. By arranging the lamp on one side of the glass 0 the liquid becomes distinctly visible in the light and the presence of any undesirable admixtures-or impurities is readily detected.

. In some cases, a les'complicated arrangement of the lamp will sufice, and examples are illustrated-in-Figs. 5 and 6. A glass plate 14. may be inserted in the wall of the passage c and a lamp 0 may be arranged in front of the .plate, and project its rayspnto a collector lens w or a reflector x, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, respectively, which directs them' into the flowing liquid. In this case, however, acomparatively weak light will be obtained which 'does not extend all-over the area of the liquid, but, as said, this simpler device may be m some cases. The problem is to illumi- -ti0'n of a vertical la 29A This is the quantit of liquid which gets into the evaporator o the refrigerating machine and from which the output is readily ascertained as the heat of evaporation for the unit weight of liquid is given.

8' is the pressure scale of the gauge g, and t is an additional scale on which the outputis plotted. For the normal temperature of ammonia, 12 deg. centrigrade, the output may be read directly. For any other temperature of the liquidwhich the thermometer 6 indicates, the latent heat of the liquid will be difi'erent in accordance with the specific gravity of the liquid, and the output will vary in proportion. An additional scale may be provided for making the n connection so that the output may he read for these temperatures as well. i

It will be understood that in this manner the output at a given time is readily and reliably. ascertained.

I claim: V

1. In a refrige f machine flow meter for the evaporating m um, the combination of a' vertical pipe a restriction therein and an inspection lass opening in the wall tliereqlf in adlvance of saxlrestriction, 211116 wall 0 sai pipe aving an er openm' g t erein, and an illuminating device arranged to throw light through the last named opening into the interior of the pipe normally to the optical axis of said inspection glam.

'2. In a refrigerating machine flow meter for the evaporating medium, the combination of a vertical pipe having a'restriction therein and an inspection glass opening in the wall thereof in advance of said restriction, the

wall of said pipe having another opening 3. In a refrigerating machine flow meter for the evaporating medium, the combinapipe of opaque material having a restriction therein and an inspectlon glam-opening in the wall thereof in adwines of said restriction. the wall of said pipe having another opening therein, and an illuminating device arranged to throw light through the last named opening into the intenor of the pipe normally to the optical axis of said inspection glam.

4. In a refrigeratin machine flow meterfor the evaporating me 'um, the combination of a vertical pipe and a conduit for supplying medium to and discharging medium from said pipe, a valve controlling communication between the conduit and pipe, meansconsth tuted in part by said valve for relieving the pressure of the medium in said pipe when 

